PFF: Tristan Wirfs Has No Equal At Pass Blocking
June 7th, 2025Finally, Joe and the PFF tribe can agree on something: Bucs left tackle Tristan Wirfs is an absolute beast.
Zoltán Buday of the PFF tribe didn’t have Wirfs as his best tackle in the game. Instead, Buday believes it is Jordan Mailata of the Eagles. Buday thinks Mailata is a better run blocker than Wirfs, enough to rank him above the Bucs’ All-Pro.
But when it comes to pass blocking, Buday typed there is Wirfs, and then there is everyone else. There, he’s in a kingdom all his own.
There has been no better pass-blocking offensive tackle in the NFL in recent years than Wirfs. Not only did he permit zero sacks in 2024, but he also allowed pressure on just 1.9% of pass plays — the best rate among all offensive tackles.
The gap between Wirfs and the second-place left tackle in pressure rate allowed — 1 percentage point — is the equivalent of the gap between the second- and sixth-ranked left tackles.
Wirfs is simply a stone wall when in the passing game. And it is a beautiful thing to see. Wirfs’ run blocking is a little underrated but perhaps there is a reason the Bucs don’t run that often behind Wirfs.
This seems strange to Joe on the surface since Super Bowl-winning coach Bucco Bruce Arians loved running behind Wirfs.
Regardless, Wirfs is one of the best Bucs to ever wear pewter and red (and occasionally, creamsicle). If he doesn’t get hurt, Joe cannot see how Wirfs doesn’t someday have his bust in Canton with the rest of the game’s elite.
Being the only man to ever play in the NFL to win All-Pro honors at both left and right tackle speaks for itself.
June 7th, 2025 at 11:17 am
Let’s win another Super Bowl and get “no doubt” status for Mike, Lavonte, and Wirfs. That, I believe, also puts Vita in the conversation- especially if he has another healthy/productive 3-4 years. Go Bucs!
June 7th, 2025 at 11:18 am
Please keep the Creamsicles away from the Bucs in 2025. The team emulates 1983-1996 in those hideous fabrics with the orientation confused idiot on the helmet.
June 7th, 2025 at 11:21 am
Tristan and Mike will go down as Licht’s best draft picks. IMO, Tristin will have the slightest of edge in that. It’s harder to identify o-line talent vs receiver talent. Tristin is freaking generational. The only hurdle to canton for him is injury. If he stays clear of that, it’s a guarantee that he’ll have a busy one day. Mike’s greatest strength on his way to canton has been health. I happened to look up the all time leaders receiving stats yesterday to see where Mike stood. He’s currently 24th all time and only 3k yards separates him from Terrell Owens who sits at 3rd all time. It’s crazy because I saw the guy get drafted to MY BUCS and witnessed his entire career. It’s awesome to see the whole career of a HOF’er (Mike) and potentially a other in Tristin. Far removed are we from the days of Mark Freaking Dominik. In Licht I’ll trust! Go Bucs!!!!
June 7th, 2025 at 11:32 am
What is the most important job for an NFL LT. Protect the backside of his QB!
That is an absurd rationale to pick one LT over the other based on “run blocking”!!!
June 7th, 2025 at 11:37 am
@aqualung the creamsickles are dope. The stadium is always fired up on throwback game day. It’s a different vibe and I love it! I want more games in the creamsickles.
June 7th, 2025 at 11:59 am
The Bucs won their first creamsicle game, Josh Freeman’s debut.
They’re like 0-8 since.
Losing uniforms are for losers.
June 7th, 2025 at 12:20 pm
I love the Pirate Bruce jerseys- but have seen enough losing in those.
June 7th, 2025 at 1:03 pm
One creamsicle game a season won’t hurt. I have lots of creamsicle hats.
June 7th, 2025 at 1:26 pm
That’s what I am after SteveK. Another SB this year makes the Bucs and some players undeniable when it comes to top tier franchises and hall of fame cases.
June 7th, 2025 at 1:53 pm
Steve K, I love how you mentioned Vita as well. While the other guys are locks, I think it’s really time to put some momentum behind Vitas case as well. Our Eyes have shown us since he’s been in the league that he is as problematic as the come from the Defensive Tackle/Nose Tackle position. He is a now a force in the pass rush game and has been as dominant as they come in the run game since Day 1. He’s the type of player that stats don’t tell the whole story on. I’d be interested to hear where the Bucs rank in Run defense since he has come into the league. I’d bet it’s fairly high and he is our key to it.
June 7th, 2025 at 2:27 pm
Always wondered why teams would send their best edge right at Wirfs just to be neutralized. Send your worst at him send your best somewhere else. Does this happen? Just rambling. Ready for real football! Go Bowles!!
June 7th, 2025 at 2:46 pm
PFF – pfffftttt
Who can figure out wtf they’re doing. We’re all becoming too reliant on statistics when analyzing football imo.
June 7th, 2025 at 3:57 pm
I dressed as Bucco Bruce at a Halloween event years ago and had all the creamsicle’s I could eat. Chick’s dig it.